Improved brick-machine



UNITED STATES PATENT @Barreno W. A. GRAHAM,

on CARLISLE, PnNNsiriLvANrA, Assienoa To HIMsnLF AND cnAnLns cAaR, or Tanncron, new JERSEY.

:Menon-e1:` :Barca-MACHINE.

Speooatoa forming par-tof Letters'Paltent N o. 75,542, dotted March 17, 1868.

To all whom #may concern:

Be it known thatI, W.A. GRAHAM, (assigner to himself and CHARLES GARR, of Trenton, New J ersey,) of Carlisle,in` the county of Gurnberland and in the "State of Pennsylvania,-

knife and its connections; Fig. 3, a plan view ofthe two wheels. Fig. 4 represents a section of the wheel with its brick-shaped recesses and plungers placed therein; Fig. 5, a side elevation of the knife; and Fig. 6, a section ofthe frame, showing the cam attached thereto.

In the annexed drawings, A represents a suitable frame, upon which the working parts of the machineV are supported. At thnexupper portion of this frame, near each end, are crossshafts B B', which support two largeH wheels, C C. The hopper is placed above: the inner periphery of these wheels, and a suitable throat, D, is formed belowthis hopper, for conveying` the clay between the wheels. Both of these wheels are made of suitable metal, and polygonal shaped on their circumferencess (See from y to y, Fig. 4.) The wheel() is made solid, and with a series of" narrow grooves, running crosswise of its circumference, which said grooves are just far enough apart to leave a solid and flat face, just the width of any ordinary brick. It will be understood that the width of both wheels is about, or a little more than, the length of `a brick. The wheel (3^ has aseries of bricksh`aped -recesses formed in its entire circumference, (see e o, Fig. 3,) within which recesses are placed plungers i i, for forcing the brick from the wheel after they have been thoroughly formed. These plungers consist of a small, flat metal plate, provided with a short stem, projecting from be low the center, (somewhat similar to theletter T.) These stems are passed through openings made under the recesses e, and then prevented Vfrom getting out of place by a small pin, which is passed through the under parts of the stem, as seen in Figs. l and 4. It is necessary that the faces of the solid wheel G should be pressing against clay in the recesses at all times. Each of the shafts B B', that support the wheels, rests into boxes a a upon the frame A, the box a being separated from the end of the frame by a metal plate, o, andi narrow ,rubber packing, b b, and onto which plate rests the end of a set-screw, d, so that, by regulating this-screw, the journaLbox and wheel U may, at all times, be in a position as above stated, the rubber spring allowing sufcient expansion to prevent the mashing of the faces of the Wheels. This plate, box and spring, and screwareeidentical on bothsides of the wheel. K represents a segment, which is secured to the frame A, and made to fit isnugly against theinner side of wheel C,

on its inner circumference. This segment is sharpened at each end, and is intended to draw the plungers z' t' toward the center, when .the recesses e e Should be filled with clay. I

represents arock-shaft, Vwhich has its bearings at each side of the frame A A, near under part of the wheel C', and at its inner side. Depending from this shaft is a curved arm, M, upon which is secured a sliding metal presser, O. Between this presser and the end of the arm is a coil-spring, m, to adjust the said presser. Extending upward from this shaft I, and lying against the inner side of the wheel C', is another slightly-curved arm, L, having a small enlargement, z, on its outside, near the upper end. On the face of the wheel U are a series of pins or lugs, w x x, which are around the entire wheel, there being one for each plunger. The arm L is so placed that, as the wheel is revolved, one of these pins .r will bear against the enlargement z in time to cause the presser 0 and its arm to be brought up against the forming brick, the friction of the clay and presser carrying the said presser down upon its arm, contracting the spring and giving a direct central pressure upon the clay ,in the mold, until the arm L is released, and the presser fallsback, and ready for the next brick. This arm L acts in a similar manner, as each pin a' passes over its enlargement, and may be termed a cam. Between the wheels, under the central line, is secured a horizontal shaft, R, upon which is attached the cleaning-knife P. This knife is slotted, and made adjustable by a set-screw. Immediately above the edge of the knife is another small cross-shaft, N, provided with two rollers, n n, which are so placed that they will bear against the outer edges of the mold-wheel C. The knife P is between these rollers. Upon each side of the frame A is secured an L-shaped bar, provided with a rubber pad, S, which the ends of the shaft N rest against, so as to keep the rollers againstthe wheel and cause the kuifeP to readily and neatly clean the brick as the wheel revolves. After the clay in the molds (or brick-recesses c) has been passed around and pressed by the solid wheel C, and cleaned by the knife, and thoroughly compressed by the sliding presser O, it is necessary to force it from the wheel. This is accomplished by means of a. curved cam, F, connected to the inner side of the frame A, near the wheel C'. (See Fig. 6.) As the wheel is revolved past the presser 0, the inner ends of the plungersA are compelled to strike this cam, which causes them to evenly force the clay out of the molds. As the brick are dropped they fall onto a moving belt, E, and are carried to the end of the machine, and received by a person there stationed. This belt may be so arranged as to convey the brick to any point desired, or to the kiln itself.

fj" represents two large' cog-wheels at one side of the wheel C Uf, and which mesh into each other.

G represents a shaft, which has a drum for the belt F, and a cog-wheel, la, at one end,

ble power.

vcr O completes the operation, excepting the forcing of the brick from the wheel by the cam F, and its carriage upon the beltE, as specified. By means of the solid wheel C every brick is pressed and completely formed.

My machine may be operated by any suita- I, therefore, do not wish to confine myself to any particular mode of operat ing the same.

in, when used with the wheel U', as set forth.

3. The combination of the solid-faced wheel ,0, brick-mold wheel C', plungers i i, segment lf, rock-shaft, with its arms L M, shafts N R, knife P, cam F, and belt E, the various parts being constructed and operating substantially as and forthe purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 8th day of February, 1868.

W. A. GRAHAM.

Witnesses: y

C. M. ALEXANDER, J. M. MAsoN. 

